Driving mechanism for automobiles.



No.764,063. PATENTBD JUL- Y 5,1904.

' H. B. MAXWELL- DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APE.16,1904

NO MODEL.

\NH'NESSES I mum-m 4 PATENT Patented July 5, 1904.

Erica HARRY B. MAXWVELL, OF ROME, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MAXWELL 8: FITCH COMPANY, OF ROME, NEWV YORK,A CORPORATION.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,063, dated July 5,1904. Application filed April 16, 1904. Serial No. 203,461. iNo model)To (all 10/1/0117, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. MAXWELL, of Rome, in the county of Oneidaand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Driving Mechanism for Automobiles; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved drivingmechanism for automobiles, whereby more particularly an engine runningat substantially constant speed, like a gasolene or explosive engine,may be utilized to drive the automobile at different rates of speed andin different directions.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of the framework of anautomobile with my improved mechanism mounted thereon. Fig. 2 shows inside elevation details of mechanism for controlling the device.

Referring to the reference-letters in amore particular description, Aindicates the motor.

parallel therewith is the friction-disk P, which has a plane plate-likeface adapted to be engaged by either of the wheels or rolls F or F Thedisk P is mounted in bearings B B on a short shaft which extends fromthe disk through these two bearings. Secured on the shaftis asprocket-wheel S, which is connected by the sprocket-chain M with thedrivingsprocket N, situated on the axle of the automobile. For adjustingthe disk P toward and from the rollers F and F there is provided aninclined collar K, which, in combination with the inclined end on thebearing B", serves to effect this adjustment. Between the collar K andthe side of the sprocket S there may be introduced bearing-balls L,which will reduce the friction incident to the thrust. For sliding thefriction wheel or roller F along the shaft E there is provided arack-bar J, which is connected to the hub of the wheel F by means of aforked arm a. For operating the frictionwheel F along the shaft E thereis provided a rack-bar I, which is connected to the hub offriction-wheel F by a forked arm X.

Secured on the inner end of shaft O, which is mounted in hearings in theframe, are two sectors G and H. The former is provided with a number ofteeth on one portion of its periphery adapted to engage with the teethof rack-bar J. The sector H is provided with a series of teeth adaptedto engage with the teeth ofrack-bar I. The relative arrangement of thesectors with their teeth and the teeth of the rack-bars is shown in Fig.2. To the end of the shaft O at the point indicated by O there may beapplied a lever or handle by means of which the sectors G and H may beoperated.

When the friction-wheels F and F are out of engagement with the face ofthe disk P, as shown in Fig. 1, the engine or motor and shaft E may berunning without transmitting the motion to the wheels and running-gearof the automobile. When it is desired to transmit the power to therunning-gear, one or the other of the friction-wheels F or F is broughtinto contact with the face of the disk P. To do this, the operator movesthe handle on the shaft O in one direction or the other, ascircumstances may require, depending on whether the automobile is tomove forwardly or backwardly. It will be noted that when the face of thefriction-disk F or F 2 comes into engagement with the disk P the diskPwill be driven and the motion transmitted to the running-gear. When thefriction-wheels are in engagement with the periphery of the disk I thespeed of the automobile will be comparatively slow, while when thefrictionwheel is moved along the shaftE far enough to bring it near thecenter of the face of the disk P the speed of the automobile will begreatly accelerated. Ordinarily the frictionwheels F or F will not bemoved into engagement with the disk P except when the same are undermotion, being driven by the engine or motor.

It is evident that a great variety of speeds may be secured by thisconstruction of driving mechanism and that the application of the powerto the running-gear may be very quickly disconnected and applied in thereverse direction in case of emergency.

It is evident that various modifications of the device herein shown anddescribed may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a constantly-driven shaft, of a pair offriction-whcels mounted thereon and movable independently toward andfrom each other along the shaft, a disk supported in a plane parallelwith that of the shaft and a shaft on which the disk is mounted torotate, and means for moving the said friction-wheels along the shaftfrom a point approximately at the center of the disk to a point beyondits periphery, substantially as set forth.

2. In a driving mechanism of the character deseribed,-the combination ofa rotatable disk in the nature of a face-plate, a shaft extendingdiametrically across the face of the disk at asuflicient distancetherefrom. a pair of friction-wheels mounted on said shaft, andlongitudinally movable thereon from a point beyond the periphery of thedisk to a point approximate to the axial line of the disk, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination in a driving mechanism of the character described, ofthe driven shaft E, the friction-Wheels F and F mounted thereon andlaterally movable thereon, the driven disk P, in the nature of aface-plate, supported in a plane approximate to the shaft E and paralleltherewith, and means for independently moving the friction-wheels F andF laterally along the shaft E, consisting of rackbars connected to thefriction-wheels F and F respectively, and toothed segments adapted toengage with the rack-bars and operate them respectively, substantiallyas set forth.

In witness whereof I have aifixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 11th day of April, 1904.

I HARRY B. MAXIV ELL.

Witnesses:

Q. H. BETSINGER, A. K. HAYNES.

